Multi-part shelf

ABSTRACT

A multi-part shelf includes an upper portion having one or more openings that allow spilled material to pass through the upper portion; a solid lower portion, configured to contain the spilled material; and at least one support that supports the solid lower portion beneath the upper portion and allows movement of the lower portion without movement of the upper portion or material stored on the upper portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to multi-part shelving and devices incorporatingsuch shelving.

2. Description of Related Art

Typically, conventional shelving has consisted of a fixed solid supportmember, or an open wire mesh. Particularly, where effective aircirculation is required, such as, for example, in a refrigerator, wiremesh or offset solid shelving is preferred. A number of conventionaldesigns have attempted to improve on the conventional fixedsingle-support shelf.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,069 to Kronenberger et al. discloses a three-partshelf for use in a refrigerator cabinet that has a solid support thatcovers a wire shelf and a lower condensate drip tray that collectscondensation. In Kronenberger et al. the solid support covers aconventional wire refrigerator shelf to support the items to berefrigerated, while the condensate drip tray directs cold air andcondensed water to the rear of the refrigerator. The solid supportdisclosed in Kronenberger et al. prevents the effective cleanup ofspilled material unless all stored material is first removed from thesolid surface prior to cleanup and directs spilled material to the rear,complicating cleanup.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,767 to Bright discloses a pullout tray for use as arefrigerator shelf. The pull out tray disclosed in Bright is installedon top of a conventional wire refrigerator shelf and, when pulled out,extends from the wire shelf for access to stored materials. Because thepull out tray disclosed in Bright is installed on top of theconventional wire shelf, stored material must be removed from the pullout tray to clean up a spill.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,078,681 to Otte discloses a low cost stainless steelsingle sliding shelf for use in a refrigerator with a wire mesh bottomthat allows spilled material to flow through the wire mesh onto storedmaterial on lower shelves, or onto the floor of the refrigerator,thereby complicating effective cleanup.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,140,611 to Smith et al. discloses a shelf structure thathas a receptacle installed below the primary shelf for use as ahydrator. However, the portion of the shelf above the hydrator is solid,in order to maintain a higher humidity within the hydrator, and thusprevents use of the hydrator as a spill-catcher.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,581 to Palladino et al. discloses a solid supportmember for transforming a conventional open-wire shelf into a solidshelf within a refrigerated display case. Because the solid support isinstalled above the wire shelf, it does not allow for the cleanup ofspilled material without the removal of material stored on the solidsupport member.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,562 to Wittschen discloses a material handling cartwith a solid support as a shelf. The solid support has a wire meshextension panel below the solid support that allows for shelf extensionwhen more or larger materials require support. Because the meshextension is provided below the solid support when not in use, storedmaterial must be removed from the solid support in order to clean upspilled material.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,813 to Toronto discloses a solid auxiliary shelfthat swings out from under a conventional wire shelf when a refrigeratordoor is opened. The shelf is designed for the temporary placement ofmaterials when the door is open. The shelf of Toronto, however, does nothave a lip for containment of spilled material, thereby allowing a spillto cascade onto lower shelves and material stored on those shelves.Furthermore, the shelf disclosed in Toronto is not easily removable forcleanup.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a novelmulti-part shelf system to manage spills. The multi-part shelf systemincludes an upper portion comprising one or more openings and a lowerportion comprising an easily movable solid shelf configured to catch andcontain spilled material. The lower portion may be partially or fullyremoved and cleaned. Therefore, spilled material may be disposed ofwithout having to move material stored on the upper portion, or havingto clean material stored below the multi-part shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described indetail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a multi-part shelf system;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which the lower portion ispartially removed for cleaning;

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which the lower portion isfully removed for cleaning;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a multi-part shelf system;

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a multi-part shelf system;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a multi-part shelf system;

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a lower portion of a multi-part shelfsystem; and

FIG. 8 shows a storage device incorporating a multi-part shelf system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-3 show one embodiment of a multi-part shelf system according tothis invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the multi-part shelf 100 has anupper portion 110. According to this embodiment, the upper portion is awire mesh shelf having integrated cross members 102, 104 that defineopenings 106. However, it should be appreciated that in various otherembodiments, any solid support structure with one or more openings, forexample, a plastic, nylon, vinyl, glass and/or metal shelf with one ormore openings may be used as the upper portion 110. Additionally, inother exemplary embodiments, a mesh shelf of another material, such asplastic, vinyl, or nylon, may be used as the upper portion 110. On eachside of the upper portion 110 of FIGS. 1-3 there is provided an L-shapedsupport 130 for holding the lower portion 120 of the multi-part shelf100. In this manner, the lower portion 120 may be easily inserted,pulled out, and optionally removed from beneath the upper portion 110.

It should be appreciated that in various other embodiments, otherstructure may be used that maintains a relatively close proximitybetween the lower portion 120 and the upper portion 110 and allows thelower portion 120 to be easily pulled out and/or removed from beneaththe upper portion 110. Such structures or devices may include, but arenot limited to, a rail and groove combination (e.g., FIG. 4), a wheeland track combination such as those commonly used on conventionaldrawers (e.g., FIG. 5), and/or a guide (e.g., FIG. 6).

The lower portion 120 is a solid tray-like structure configured tocontain material spilled onto it from the upper portion 100. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, it may include a lip 122 around an areaof the lower portion 120 to contain spilled material. In the depictedembodiment, the area is the whole of the lower portion, and thereforethe lip 122 is around the perimeter of the lower portion 120. However,an area that is less than the whole of the lower portion may be used aswell. The lower portion may be made from any suitable materials such asone or more of, for example, metal, glass, plastic, nylon, vinyl,rubber, and/or wood.

Furthermore, in various exemplary embodiments of a multi-part shelfsystem according to this invention, the lower portion 120 may besubdivided into separate compartments in order to, for example, preventvarious spilled materials from interacting with one another (e.g., FIG.7).

FIG. 4 shows one exemplary embodiment of a multi-part shelf 400 with arail 410 and groove 420 combination that is usable to maintain arelatively close proximity between the upper portion 110 and the lowerportion 120 of the multi-part shelf 400 and allows the lower portion 120to be easily pulled out and/or removed from beneath the upper portion110. As shown in FIG. 4, the rail 410, connected to the upper portion110, is shaped to fit at least partially within the groove 420,connected to the lower portion 120. The rail 410 and groove 420 connectthe upper portion 110 and lower portion 120 in a sliding fashion, suchthat the lower portion may be pulled out and/or removed for cleaningand/or removal of spilled material.

It should be appreciated that in various other exemplary embodimentsthat utilize a rail and groove combination, the rail may be connected tothe lower portion and the groove connected to the upper portion.Furthermore, two or more rail and groove pairs may be used on eitherside or both of the upper portion and lower portion that cooperate withone another.

FIG. 5 shows one exemplary embodiment of a multi-part shelf 500 with awheel 510 and track 520 combination that is usable to maintain arelatively close proximity between the upper portion 110 and the lowerportion 120 of the multi-part shelf 500 and allows the lower portion 120to be easily pulled out and/or removed from beneath the upper portion110. As shown in FIG. 5, the wheels 510, connected to the upper portion110, are shaped to fit at least partially within the track 520,connected to the lower portion 120. The wheels 510 and track 520 connectthe upper portion 110 and lower portion 120 in a rolling fashion suchthat the lower portion may be pulled out and/or removed for cleaningand/or removal of spilled material. It should be appreciated that thenumber and placement of the wheels 510 shown in this exemplaryembodiment is not limiting and both the number and placement of thewheels 510 may be selected depending on cost and/or designconsiderations.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that in various other exemplaryembodiments that utilize a wheel and track combination, the wheel(s) maybe connected to the lower portion and the track connected to the upperportion. Furthermore, two or more wheel and groove pairs may be used onone or both sides of the upper portion and lower portion that cooperatewith one another.

FIG. 6 shows one exemplary embodiment of a multi-part shelf 600 with aguide 610, 620 that is usable to maintain a relatively close proximitybetween the upper portion 110 and the lower portion 120 of themulti-part shelf 600 and allows the lower portion 120 to be easilypulled out and/or removed from beneath the upper portion 110. As shownin FIG. 6, the guide includes a rail 610 that supports the shelf and araised portion 620 that interacts with a groove 630 in the lower portion120 to ensure that the lower portion is maintained substantially belowthe upper portion. The rail 610, raised portion 620, and groove 630support the lower portion 120 in a sliding fashion such that the lowerportion may be pulled out and/or removed for cleaning and/or removal ofspilled material. It should be appreciated that in various exemplaryembodiments the guide 610, 620 may be centrally placed. Alternatively,or one or more guides may be placed off center. The configuration,number, and placement of the guide 610, 620 and groove 630 may beselected depending on cost and/or design considerations.

FIG. 7 shows one exemplary embodiment of a lower portion 720 comprisingdividing members 730 that divide the lower portion 720 into separatecompartments 740. In this manner, the lower portion 720 is usable tosubstantially separate spilled material that is stored on the upperportion (not shown). For instance, if two materials are stored on theupper portion (not shown), each material respectively stored over adifferent separate compartment 740, and each of the two materials werespilled, each of the two spilled materials would be contained within itsrespective separate compartment 740, thereby avoiding interactionbetween the two materials. It should be appreciated that the number andplacement of the compartments 740 shown in this exemplary embodiment arenot limiting and both the number and placement of the compartments 740may be selected depending on cost and/or design considerations.

An advantage of the above-described embodiments of a multi-part shelfaccording to this invention is that when a spill occurs, spilledmaterial falls through the opening(s) 106 in the upper portion 110 ofthe multi-part shelf 100. The spilled material is caught by the lowerportion 120 of the multi-part shelf and contained therein. Because thespilled material is contained by the lower portion 120 of the multi-partshelf, it is substantially prevented from remaining in contact withmaterial stored on the upper portion 110, or coming into contact withitems stored on shelves below the multi-part shelf 100.

Once the lower portion 110 has contained a spill, the lower portion 110may be partially or fully pulled out, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and thespilled material may be quickly removed. In this manner, variousembodiments of the multi-part shelf according to this invention providefor quick and efficient cleanup without moving material stored on orbelow the multi-part shelf 100.

Furthermore, once the lower portion 110 has contained a spill, invarious exemplary embodiments, the entire lower portion 100 may beremoved, as shown in FIG. 3, to be thoroughly cleaned in, for example, asink or dishwasher. In this manner, various embodiments of multi-partshelves according to this invention also provide for a thorough cleanupof particularly messy or hazardous spills without moving material storedon or below the multi-part shelf 100.

Various exemplary embodiments of multi-part shelves according to thisinvention are particularly suited for use in devices that employshelving. As shown in FIG. 8, one or more multi-part shelves 100according to various exemplary embodiments of this invention may beinstalled in a device 810. The device 810 may be, for example, arefrigerator, a freezer, an oven, a microwave oven, a cabinet, and/or afreestanding shelf, or any other shelving environment in which thematerial to be stored in the shelving environment, whether liquid and/orsolid, is susceptible to spilling. In this manner, material storedwithin the device 810 on one of the multi-part shelves 100 that hasspilled is substantially prevented from remaining in contact withmaterial stored on the multi-part shelf 100. Further, the spilledmaterial is substantially prevented from coming into contact with itemsstored in the device 810 below the multi-part shelf 100 on which thespilled material was stored. The upper portion and/or support may beremovably or permanently affixed to or incorporated into one or moreoptional walls of the device 810, or otherwise supported within thatdevice 810.

The above-described embodiments of a multi-part shelf according to thisinvention should be viewed as illustrative, not limiting. Variousmodifications, substitutes, or the like, particularly with respect tothe configuration of the openings within the upper portion, the numberand arrangement of the compartments of the lower portion, and method ordevices used to fasten the lower portion to the upper portion such thatit may be easily removed, are possible within the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A multi-part shelf comprising: an upper portion having one or moreopenings that allow spilled material to pass through the upper portion;a solid lower portion, configured to contain spilled material before itcontacts a next lower shelf; and at least one support that supports thesolid lower portion beneath the upper portion and allows movement of thelower portion without movement of the upper portion or material storedon the upper portion.
 2. The multi-part shelf of claim 1, wherein the atleast one support allows easy removal of the lower portion withoutmovement of the upper portion or material stored on the upper portion.3. The multi-part shelf of claim 1, wherein the solid lower portioncomprises a raised lip around an area of an upper surface of the lowerportion.
 4. The multi-part shelf of claim 3, wherein said area of theupper surface of the lower portion is substantially all of the uppersurface of the lower portion.
 5. The multi-part shelf of claim 1,wherein the upper portion comprises a wire mesh.
 6. The multi-part shelfof claim 1, wherein the upper portion is a solid support with one ormore openings.
 7. The multi-part shelf of claim 1, wherein at least aportion of the multi-part shelf is glass.
 8. The multi-part shelf ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lower portion is plastic. 9.The multi-part shelf of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of themulti-part shelf is metal.
 10. The multi-part shelf of claim 1, whereinat least a portion of the multi-part shelf is nylon.
 11. The multi-partshelf of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the multi-part shelf isvinyl.
 12. The multi-part shelf of claim 1, wherein the at least onesupport comprises at least one substantially L-shaped support on each oftwo sides of the multi-part shelf.
 13. The multi-part shelf of claim 1,wherein the at least one support comprises at least one rail and groovesupport on each of two sides of the multi-part shelf.
 14. The multi-partshelf of claim 1, wherein the at least one support comprises at leastone wheel in a track on each of two sides of the multi-part shelf. 15.The multi-part shelf of claim 1, wherein the at least one supportcomprises at least one guide located below the lower portion.
 16. Arefrigerator including the multi-part shelf of claim
 1. 17. A cabinetincluding the multi-part shelf of claim
 1. 18. A freezer including themulti-part shelf of claim
 1. 19. A freestanding set of shelves includingthe multi-part shelf of claim
 1. 20. A refrigerator including amulti-part shelf, the multi-part shelf comprising: an upper portionhaving one or more openings that allow spilled material to pass throughthe upper portion; a solid lower portion, having a raised lip around anarea of an upper surface of the lower portion configured to containspilled material; and at least one support that supports the solid lowerportion beneath the upper portion and allows the removal of the lowerportion without removal of the upper portion or material stored on theupper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a wire mesh.
 21. Amulti-part shelf comprising: an upper portion comprising means forallowing spilled material to pass through the upper portion; a solidlower portion, comprising means for containing spilled material; meansfor supporting the solid lower portion beneath the upper portion; andmeans for allowing movement of the lower portion without movement of theupper portion or material stored on the upper portion.